Health Care Workforce Expansion Act of 2025
Summary
The Health Care Workforce Expansion Act of 2025 aims to address healthcare workforce shortages by establishing grant programs for medical, dental, and nursing schools. It also seeks to increase enrollment in health professions schools and provide payments to teaching health centers. Additionally, the act focuses on distributing additional Medicare GME residency positions and establishing a rural relocation grant program.
Expected Effects
This act would likely increase the number of healthcare professionals, particularly in underserved areas. It would also provide financial assistance to students pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, and nursing. The expansion of residency positions would further support graduate medical education.
Potential Benefits
- Increased access to healthcare, especially in rural and underserved areas.
- Reduced financial burden for students pursuing healthcare careers.
- Expanded capacity of health professional schools to train more students.
- Enhanced support for teaching health centers and graduate medical education programs.
- Improved distribution of healthcare professionals across different specialties and geographic locations.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased government spending and debt.
- Risk of inefficient allocation of resources if grant programs are not properly managed.
- Possible unintended consequences of service obligations, such as discouraging students from pursuing certain specialties.
- Administrative burden associated with managing grant programs and tracking service obligations.
- The loan repayment terms for failure to complete service may create a financial burden.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The act aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Article I, Section 8), which allows Congress to provide for the health and well-being of the nation. The grant programs and other provisions are intended to promote public health and ensure access to healthcare services. However, the act's reliance on federal funding and potential expansion of government regulation could raise concerns about federal overreach and states' rights (Tenth Amendment).
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).